Post Bench Press Loads and Time to CommentsFor the strength segment, we are beginning a Wendler 5-3-1 Program (more details below). “Working 1RM” is defined as 90% of your current 1RM. If you are not sure of your current 1RM talk to your Coaches and they’ll help you determine it. Note that the final set of the day is for Max Reps.

For the Metcon, attempt to do the KB Swings unbroken.

OPEN GYM tonight from 7-8pm! Make up a missed WOD or work on your lifts!

*PLEASE READ*Some notes on our new strength cycle based on Wendler’s 5-3-1 protocol:
For the next four weeks, at least, we will be doing four main movements in our strength training program: Back Squat, Deadlift, Press, and Bench Press. We will incorporate full Snatches and Cleans on Deadlift days. This does not mean that we won’t be doing any other weightlifting movements. This just means that the strength portion of our programming will be very simplified and very effective at making you stronger. If there is anyone who wants to argue that only doing these movements will not make you stronger, feel free to send me an email and I’ll forward you the addresses of some other gyms in the area…LOL.

We will continue to follow what amounts to an 8 day strength training cycle: Day 1 Press, Day 2 Deadlifts, Days 3/4 Gymnastics and Skills, Day 5 Bench Press, Day 6 Back Squat, and Days 7/8 Gymnastics and Skills.

All the barbell strength days will involve some math, so bring a calculator, or, better yet, pick up one of the new WOD Books. The program is based on your “working 1RM”, which is actually 90% of your last max effort single lift. If you squat 300#, ou will base the whole month’s numbers off 90% of that: 270#.

This is a four week cycle. The first week you lift 3 sets of 5 reps. The second week you lift 3 sets of 3 reps. Third week is 1 set 5 reps/1 set 3 reps/1 set 1 rep. Fourth week is a deloading week of 3 sets at 5 reps light loading. All the sets work on precentages of the working 1RM number. It’s all much easier than it sounds and the Coaches will help you! It is important that you keep your journal!

Here’s answers to some of the basic questions some of you may have:

What if I miss a day or only work out two or three times a week?

Since we are only lifting heavy 4 days a week, feel free to make up a day that you miss during the gymnastics strength or skill time on another day.

What if I miss an attempt at a certain prescribed load?

Monitor your lifting. You shouldn’t really be failing and if you are your working 1RM may be too ambitious. If you can’t hit the percentage load increases regularly, we can make smaller poundage increases.

What weight will I use after a four week cycle is up?

Every month, you will add 5# to the upper body working 1RM load and 10# to the lower body working 1RM load from the previous month. Once you can’t get through the cycle, we will do a deload week and determine your new one rep max.

What if I don’t know what my one rep max is?

New members may not know there 1RM. You can follow this protocol to determine one rep max. For the rest of you who don’t know your one rep max, you can use this technique without hitting a max effort:

Estimate your 1RM for the lift.
• Take 80% of your supposed max and perform as many reps as possible.
• Plug the reps and the weight into this formula to get your estimated 1RM:

Weight x Reps x .0333 + Weight = Estimated 1RM

This may all seem a little crazy at first, but change is good, and this change will serve two purposes: simplifying the strength session and making you all stronger.

If you have questions, please post them to comments so I can answer them for everyone to see.